Collapsible refrigerator
A novel portable refrigerator is disclosed where the refrigerator is collapsible for storage, comprising a foldable panels for a top, sidewalls, a front, a rear and where all of the panels are attached to a base. One of the panels further includes a chiller circuit that is capable of recirculating the air contained with the refrigerator and cooling it to a selected set point. When in the collapsed mode, the collapsible refrigerator is securable and can be easily handled by the user and stored in a convenient manner.
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to refrigerators and refrigeration systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a portable refrigerator that is collapsible for convenience in carrying and for storage purposes.
Since the development of modern refrigeration systems, there has been a constant quest to improve the efficiency of these units in order to reduce size. Improvements in efficiency did transpire and the systems that are offered today are vastly improved over those in existence in the early 1900s. Advances in coolant chemistry and technology, in condenser and evaporator systems, and in the materials used to provide the insulated housing have all contributed to designs for coolers, refrigerators, chiller systems, and the like.
In recent years, the popularity of portable chiller systems has arisen, perhaps as a result of the extremely mobile American society. These coolers typically look like a tradition ice chest type that a person might use for camping or other recreational pursuits. In the case of the portable chiller type, however, the cooler contains a chiller circuit that is capable of providing refrigeration so long as the power supply to the unit is maintained. Normally, such portable chiller systems utilize both AC and DC power sources, such that when the user is on the road or at a camp site the DC source is taken from the car or motorhome and that mode is used to maintain the portable chiller. Otherwise, if the user happens to be in a location where AC power is handy, such as a hotel room or at a marina with shore power, the portable chiller can be maintained using that power source.
In any event, the portable chillers referred to still maintain the bulky size and heft of large ice chests even if the size of the chilling systems have been minimized. Advances have been made with respect to ice chests and portable coolers where they have been fabricated from soft-sided materials and can be compacted very easily for storage. However, these constructions do not provide as much insulation as the conventional ice chests and their use is a compromise at best in terms of efficiency versus convenience. In addition, if the soft-sided coolers were fitted with the mechanicals for chilling, the overall structure would be difficult to handle, since part would be rigid and inflexible and part would be compactable and crushable. While such units would fulfill part of the equation for storage purposes, the overall efficiency and effect would not meet the expectations of those users who desired to have the equivalent of a portable chiller that would adequately refrigerate their foodstuffs and drinks.
In the prior art there have been numerous versions of the portable chiller. These include approaches that utilize traditional chilling circuits whereby a coolant such as a Freon or a Freon substitute, is circulated between an evaporator loop and a condenser loop. In addition, there have been chiller circuits developed that are quite adaptable for portable use, using a thermoelectric chilling/heating system. Both types have been found in the portable chillers that are known and each has its advantage. However, none of the portable chillers in the prior art that have been reviewed are truly compactable or collapsible without some concurrent sacrifice in efficiency, convenience or durability.
Notwithstanding the advances in chilling systems, there still remains a long felt need for a portable chiller that is very efficient, that retains the durability of solid wall construction and that is compactable or collapsible for convenience and for easy storage. The benefits and attributes of the present invention address this long felt need as well as other deficiencies that are known in the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA new portable refrigerator comprises a collapsible housing which is transitionable between a functional mode and a collapsed mode, where the collapsible housing is made up of solid wall construction that is foldable, and where a chilling circuit is integrally included within a solid wall of the portable refrigerator and is directed towards the chilling of the area enclosed by the collapsible housing when it is in the functional mode. When in the collapsed mode, the portable refrigerator folds into a compact size that is easily storable.
The portable refrigerator of the present invention is capable of being powered by a DC power source.
The portable refrigerator of the present invention further includes an integrally formed handle that is especially useful for carrying the portable refrigerator when it is in the collapsed mode.
These and other attributes and benefits of the present invention will be discussed in more detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A portable chiller of the present invention is shown in the drawings and is discussed in detail within this section. The terms “chiller” or refrigerator” are essentially interchangeable as used within this specification. Typically, the term “chiller” is meant to convey a chiller circuit which is the conventional approach for coolant-based refrigeration. Chiller circuits employ a coolant supply that is plumbed to run from an evaporator section where the heat is taken up, to a condenser section where heat is blown off, the end result being the ability to cool (or heat) a subject volume. Chiller circuits can be scaled to fit virtually any cooling requirement and in industrial or commercial applications the amount of chilling power is great enough that it is conventionally measured in “tons” of cooling. Conversely, smaller units are in use in the ways described above and essentially work in the same manner and use the same essential chemistry and technology with the scale of cooling power being the only substantive difference.
In the present case, the chiller of the present invention is a reduced version of the type of chiller circuit that would commonly be associated with refrigerators. The fact that the present invention is meant to operate as a device for the cold storage of foodstuffs means that in essence it is a small refrigerator, nonetheless, it is also an example of a chiller operation. Using alternate technology for the chilling purposes of the present invention is entirely feasible and would not be prohibited. The use of thermoelectric cooling, for example, is an acceptable alternative although the components for thermoelectric chilling will not be shown since they would merely substitute in place of the chiller circuit that is shown, using the same architecture for the supply air and return air systems. Nonetheless it is understood that thermoelectric chilling would be a feasible alternate to the embodiments of the invention as taught herein.
Turning now to
In
Turning now to
Lastly,
It can now be appreciated that the usage of the collapsible refrigerator 10 of the present invention proceeds in a specific way and with specific benefits. In the functional mode, the front wall 12, rear wall 14, top wall 16, base 18 and the sidewalls 20 are all in the position as shown in
The front wall 12, rear wall 14, top wall 16, base 18 and the sidewalls 20 are made up of solid or semi-solid construction. For instance, they may be comprised of the same construction that is found in the plastic ice chests used for short-term cold storage which typically have plastic panels that sandwich insulating materials therein or merely enclose air space. They could also be constructed from solid panels such as structural foam or even solid plastic or metal, and still achieve the compactable objectives set forth herein although the comparative insulating properties of each may vary in acceptability. The wall constructions that are known in use with modern ice chests are famous both for their insulation properties which would assist the storage of foodstuffs within the collapsible refrigerator of the present invention, as well as promote a very substantial and strong housing for the collapsible refrigerator. Unlike some of the prior art coolers, that have soft-sided construction, the uniqueness of the solid or semi-solid construction of the present invention offer great advantage in strength, in the protection of the contents, and in overall durability. Whether the selection is a solid or semi-solid construction the result is rigid panels that are used to form the various walls (and base) of the present invention. Normally this type of construction would not be subject to compactability but for the teachings of the preferred embodiments of the present invention.
Given the character of the construction of the collapsible refrigerator herein, the fact that is has been designed to fold into a very small package is a major convenience for the user. Following the progression of the collapsing process, the unit shown in
Turning to
The collapsible refrigerator 10 of the present invention, shown in the collapsed mode in
In the collapsed mode, the unit is extremely compact as compared to its size in the functional mode. In fact, in the preferred embodiment, the collapsible refrigerator would be approximately 30″ wide, 12″ tall and about 18″ deep. This would provide ample storage space for the user, although different sized units could easily be provided if demands for smaller or larger capacities were necessary. In the case of the preferred embodiment, the collapsible refrigerator would approximate the size of a closed laptop computer when in the collapsed mode. The preferred embodiment would then be compatible with many of the available storage or carrying cases and it would fit wherever space was anticipated for items like a laptop would be reserved. A storage or carrying case could be supplied with the invention and it would be useful for storing the DC supply and related accessories.
Turning now to
The condenser 82, when activated as part of the chiller circuit, pumps the coolant (typically Freon or a Freon equivalent) through the evaporator coils where the coolant is optimized for uptaking heat from the air flows passing over the coils. The coolant then proceeds to the condenser coils where the heated coolant is cooled by the passage of the airflows generated by the hot air exhaust blower 94. These air flows are brought in through vents (not shown) in the hot air exhaust housing 88 and are drawn into the hot air exhaust blower intake 96 and then discharged through the hot air exhaust 98 through the hot air exhaust plenum 100 and then to the outside. This airflow is indicated by the airflow path 92. The net effect of this exhausting of the hot air is to reduce the heat content of the coolant as it flows through the condenser coils. The coolant continues to flow through the circuit, reaching the condenser inlet 84, where it recommences the process all over again.
The circulation of the coolant through the chiller circuit, continuously transfer heat form the recirculated air within the collapsible refrigerator, lowering the air temperature until it reaches the selected set point as determined by the user. The chiller circuit is contained within its own housing which protects the components from damage and also seals those parts of the system that are directing airflows.
As alluded to above, the chiller circuit of the type shown can be replaced with a thermoelectric chiller without detracting from the function of the present invention. Both may be considered chiller circuits for the purposes of this discussion, however the preferred embodiment is deemed to be the chiller circuit disclosed in
The features and attributes of the present invention may be achieved with changes to materials, components and by altering dimensions and configurations without departing from the spirit and scope of the teachings herein. To that end, the embodiment illustrated within the drawings and discussed within this specification, and any alternate means for use with the preferred embodiments, are not meant to represent limitations on the scope or claims of the invention.
Claims
1. A portable refrigerator transitionable between a functional mode and a collapsed mode for use in the cold storage of foodstuffs or drinks, the portable refrigerator comprising:
- A chiller circuit;
- A front wall, a rear wall, a top wall, a base, and at least a pair of sidewalls combined together to enclose a storage space when the portable refrigerator is in the functional mode, where said storage space is controllably cooled by the chiller circuit; and,
- Where the front wall, the rear wall, the top wall and the sidewalls are inwardly foldable to form a compact package when the portable refrigerator is in the collapsed mode.
2. The portable refrigerator of claim Number 1, where the chiller circuit is housed within the rear wall.
3. The portable refrigerator of claim Number 1, where the front wall, the rear wall, the top wall, the base and the sidewalls are comprised of a rigid construction.
4. The portable refrigerator of claim Number 1, where the portable refrigerator further includes a handle for carrying the portable refrigerator when it is in the collapsed mode.
5. The portable refrigerator of claim Number 1, where the chiller circuit is powered by a DC power supply.
6. The portable refrigerator of claim Number 1, where the top wall is segmented into two portions that are foldable with respect to each other
7. The portable refrigerator of claim Number 1, where the front wall, the rear wall, the sidewall and the top wall are each foldable at their place of contact with a living hinge.
8. A portable refrigerator transitionable between a functional mode and a collapsed mode for use in the cold storage of foodstuffs or drinks, the portable refrigerator comprising:
- A chiller circuit;
- A front wall, a rear wall, a top wall, a base, and at least a pair of sidewalls are comprised of rigid panels which combine together to enclose a storage space when the portable refrigerator is in the functional mode, where said storage space is controllably cooled by the chiller circuit; and,
- Where the front wall, the rear wall, the top wall and the sidewalls are inwardly foldable at their place of contact with a living hinge, forming a folded compact package when the portable refrigerator is in the collapsed mode.
9. The portable refrigerator of claim Number 8, where the top wall is segmented into two portions that are foldable with respect to each other.
10. The portable refrigerator of claim Number 8, where the chiller circuit is powered by a DC power supply.
11. The portable refrigerator of claim Number 8, where the portable refrigerator further includes a handle for carrying the portable refrigerator when it is in the collapsed mode.
12. The portable refrigerator of claim Number 8, where the chiller circuit is housed within the rear wall.
13. A collapsible refrigerator transitionable between a functional mode and a collapsed mode for use in the cold storage of foodstuffs or drinks, the collapsible refrigerator comprising:
- A chiller circuit powered by an electric power supply;
- A front wall, a rear wall, a top wall, a base, and at least a pair of sidewalls are comprised of rigid panels which combine together to enclose a storage space when the collapsible refrigerator is in the functional mode, where said storage space is controllably cooled by the chiller circuit; and,
- Where the front wall, the rear wall, the top wall and the sidewalls are inwardly foldable at their place of contact with a living hinge, forming a folded compact package when the collapsible refrigerator is in the collapsed mode, where the collapsible refrigerator is secured in the collapsed mode and may be stored.
14. The collapsible refrigerator of claim Number 13, where the collapsible refrigerator is secured by Velcro strips when in the collapsed mode.
15. The collapsible refrigerator of claim Number 13, where it further includes a handle for carrying when it is in the collapsed mode.
16. The portable refrigerator of claim Number 13, where the chiller circuit is housed within the rear wall.
17. The portable refrigerator of claim Number 13, where the top wall is segmented into two portions that are foldable with respect to each other.
18. The portable refrigerator of claim Number 13, where the chiller circuit is comprised of a coolant system employing an evaporator portion and a condenser portion.
19. The portable refrigerator of claim Number 13, where the chiller circuit is comprised of a thermoelectric cooling system.
20. The portable refrigerator of claim Number 13, where the top wall is segmented into two portions that are foldable with respect to each other.
Type: Application
Filed: May 2, 2006
Publication Date: Nov 8, 2007
Inventor: Spencer Trotter (Albuquerque, NM)
Application Number: 11/415,472
International Classification: F25D 19/00 (20060101); F25B 27/00 (20060101);